Public concerns prompted by social media rumours over a possible measles case at a Sauchie nursery have been officially ruled out by NHS Forth Valley.
Parents had voiced worries online after the nursery issued a precautionary letter last month advising families what symptoms to look out for when it comes to measles. This led to speculation locally, but health officials have now confirmed that the tests came back negative.
In a statement, NHS Forth Valley said: “Public Health staff recently investigated a possible case of measles at a nursery in Clackmannanshire. However, subsequent tests confirmed that this was not actually measles.
"Many viruses can cause similar symptoms to measles, such as a rash and high temperature, however it is important to investigate each possible case and provide advice as a precautionary measure.
“While this case did not turn out to be measles, there are a number of confirmed cases of measles in Scotland every year. We would therefore encourage parents to ensure their child has been vaccinated.
“The MMRV vaccine protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) and is offered as part of the routine child vaccination programme.
"Children need to have at least two doses of the vaccine to have long-lasting protection against these diseases which can cause serious illness and, in some cases, be life-threatening.
“Further information on measles and the MMRV vaccination can be found on the NHS Inform website and if parents are unsure if their child has been vaccinated or may have missed a dose they can contact NHS Forth Valley's local vaccination team for advice on 0800 130 3120.”
Health officials are urging families to use this as a reminder to check their child’s vaccination records and ensure both doses of the MMRV jab have been received.
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